Cream-dispensing device



' A. SLATEN CREAM DISPENS ING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1925 5 he t -Shet A; SLATEN 'CREAM DISPENSING DEVICE Nov. 2%, 1927.

Filed March 5. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Alba? Nov. 29, 1927.

' A. SLATEN CREAM msmansme DEVICE Filed March 5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 jig A. SLATEN CREAM DISPENSING DEVICE Filed March s, 1925 v I 5' Sheets-Sheet 4 J5 n 7 7/ T Nov." 29, 1927.

A. SLATEN CREAM DiSPENSING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

l,650,8ft

ire STATES PATE, "rice.

ALBERT stam na, or meniscus, iamnnso'ra.

cRnAM-msrmvsine' DE ICE.

Application filed March 5, 1925: Serial No. 13,382.

My invention relates to cream dispensing devices and has for its object to improve the same in the several particulars hereinafter noted.

To the above end, generally stated, theme creai'n-dispensing device witha part broken 15 away and another part shown in a difierent position by means of broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of said device and further illustrating, by means of broken lines, a cup positioned under the cream- 20 measuring compartment;

Fig. 3 is a viewin transverse vertical section, taken on the line 2--2- of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cream measuring and valve-controlling assembly together with a fragment of the bottomof the casing, on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 5 is a detail principally in section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4c;

Fig. 6 is a right side elevationgof the cream-measuring and valve-controlling as sembly removed from its support and on an enlarged scale; v I

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts shown inFigG; v 5 Fig. 8 is a View principally inlongitudinal vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the draw-off as sembly removed from the tank with a part broken away and with other parts shown in different positions by means of broken lines;

Fig. 10 is a right side elevation of the draw-off assembly as shown in Fig. 9; and

11 to 15, inclusive, aredetail views principally in section taken on the lines l111 to 15'15, inclusive, ofiFig. 9.

The numeral indicates a rectangular casing supported on four relativelylong: legs 21. Mountedin the casing 20 is a cone spondingly formedcream supply. tank 22 spaced from said casing at its ends, sides and bottom to afford an air insulating space. Theflsupply tank 22 is provided with a dis placeablecover 23 that is made hollow to afford an air insulating space.

Cream is drawn from the tank 22 through a cup-like valve casing 241- mounted ina depression 25 in the bottom of said tank and extends downwardly through an aperture in the bottom of the casing 20. In the bottom of this casing 20 is a plurality of circumferentially spaced downwardly and out wardly inclined discharge ports 26. Communication from the valve casing 24 to' the ports 26 is normally closed by a valve 27 mounted on a seat in the top of said casing. The valve 27 is arranged to close with the cream pressure in the tank 22 and has a depending stem 28 provided with a headed lower end. The valve stem 28 works through a bore in the bottomof said casing. This valve 27 is partly closed by gravity and partly by a leaf spring 29 anchored to the bottomof the casing 20 and arranged to bear on the headedlower end of the valve stem 28.

At the front of the device is a cream-measuring and valve-controlling assembly that includes a' receptacle 30 having a creamnieasuring compartment 31 and a displaceablecover 32. Formed with the receptacle 30 is an inclined trough 33, which extends below the casing 20 and under the valve casing 24 and considerably rearward thereof.

This trough 33 is arranged to receive cream from the discharge ports 26, when the valve 27 is. open, and convey the same into the measuring compartment 31. j The sides of the trough 33, at their. upper edges, are turned horizontally outward to afford a pair of flanges 34 on the under sides of which are secured front and rear pairs of supporting lugs 35. The flanges 34: and supporting lugs 35 are nounted in long rabbeted seats36 formed in the arms of a yoke-like frame 37.

The frame 37, at its rear end, is hinged at 38 to the under side of the casing20, rearward of the valve casing 24'. A. coiled spring 39, encircling the pivot pin of the hinge 38, with one of its ends reacting'against the bottom of thecasing 20 and the other. against the frame 37,holds said frame horizontally raised against; the under side of said casing.

The outer endsof the arms of' the frame 37 extend slightly outward of thefront-iof the casing 20, and bypressing downward thereon, against the tension of th'espring39, the frame 37 maybe so positioned that the crea ii-measuring and valve controlling assembly may be lifted therefrom. The engagement of thesup'p'orting lugs 35 with the ends of the seats 36 holds said supporting lugs from slidingonthe frame 37 and keeps directly rests on the seat .41 and seals the end of this port 40 is contracted and beveled to afford a valve seat 41. A heavy pistonactingnon-drip valve 42 is mounted in the "p0rt40 and has a beveled lower end, which port/10. Said valve 42 has an upstanding '50, which guide tubes extend nectingstems 49 at the proper height. I heads 51 are preferably secured to the stems valve stem 43 andthe under side of said valve is made concave so that the lower end thereof terminates in a sharp cylindrical edge 44. The valve stem 43 is guided by a pair of converging arms 45 pivoted at 46 to the sides of the trough '37 for vertical swinging movement and having their outer ends connected and pivoted at 47 to the upper end of said valve stem. I

To open the valve '42, by means of a cup X, indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, placed under the receptacle 30 to receive the measured cream in the compartment 31 when the valve 42 is open, there is provided a cupengaging horizontal metal plate 48 located just back of the receptacle 30 and under the trou h 33. This cup-engaging plate 48 has a pair'of laterally spaced upright stems 49 slidably mounted in a pair of guide tubes into the trough 33 through the bottom thereof. The stems 49 have on their upper ends bifurcated heads 51 through which the arms 45 extend. 7 These heads 51 normally rest on the upper ends of the guide tubes as stops and support the cup-engaging plate 48 through the clclnscrew threads, and when the valve 42 is closed there is clearance between the lower edges of the arms 45 and the heads 51, so that said valve will not beheld from its seat Secured to the under side of the cupengaging plate 48 is a cushion mat 52 of rubber'or any other suitable material, which prevents the 'rimof the cup X from coming into direct contact with said plate, which might chip or break the same. The valve 42 is closed and the cup-engaging plate 48 ;returned to normal position partly by gravity and partly by a spring 53 secured to the trough 33 and arranged to bear on one of the arms 45, The length of the spring 53 is such that it will not'slip off from the respective arm 45 whenthe' valve 42 is open.

-Toopen the valve 27 to fill the compartcream from the tank 22, there is provided a lever 54 intermediately pivoted on a shiftablefulerum in the form of a crank shaft 55 journaled' in the sides of the trough 33; This crank shatt55 has, on one of its e nds,outward of the trough 33,'a long arm rounds the valve stem 43.

to the anchor plate 57, to hold the shiiftable fulcrum 55at different elevations, by a set screw 58, which has screw-threaded engagement with said arm and works in a segmental slot 59 in the anchoring plate 57. This screw 58 when tightened frictionally clamps the arm 56 onto the anchor plate 57. The short or inner end of the lever 54 extends under the headed lower end of the valve stem 28 for engagement therewith to open said valve, as will presently appear.

The lever 54 is operated by a float 60 in the cream-measuring compartment 31, and through which the valve stem 43 projects. The long or outer end of the lever 54 is bifurcated and connected to the float 60 by a pair of diametricallyopposite upstanding apertured lugs 61 secured to said float and through which the prongs of the bifurcated end of the lever 54 loosely extends. Extending axially through the float 60 and secured thereto is a guide sleeve 62, which loosely sur- When the measuring compartment 31 is empty and the valve 42 closed, the float 6O rests on said valve and holds the lever 54 in position to hold the valve 27 open.

Within the trough 33 is a removable metal liner 63 having a rolled inner end 64, which interlocks with the respective end of said trough and holds said liner in position. The lower or delivery end of the liner (i3 is contracted and extends between the guide tubes 50. lVithin the liner 63 is a transverse partition 65, located back of the valve casing 24, that prevents backward flow of cream toward the open end of said liner when the valve 27 is open. I As is well known, cream in the tank 22 will separate and the heavy cream will rise to the top and the thin cream will settle at thebott om. To draw this cream from the tank so that the same has a uniform thickness and so that the last oi. the cream drawn from the tank 22 will have the same consistency as the first. there is removably mounted in said tank a draw-oil assembly, which includes an upright tubular valve casing (36 in which is mounted a long sleeve valve 67. The lower end of the valve casing 66 is expanded to aiiord a mixing chamber 68 over the valve casing 24. This mixing chamber 68 has in its walls a plurality of circumferentially spaced relatively small passages 69 for the flow of the thin cream at the bottom of the tank into said mixing chamber.

. The lower end of the valve casing (16 extends'into the depression 25, in the bottom of the tank 22, and rests on a pliable gasket .70. By reference to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the mixing chamber 68 completely surtomesh with the gear 78 at rounds the valve casing 24 and valves-7.

The'valve casing 66 extends above the level of the cream Y in the tank 22, and said jcasing and sleevevalve 67 mounted therein are held in an upright position'by a bearing 71 in the form of a flat spring arm rigidly cured toone of the sides of thetank 22 and having an aperture in its free end through projects and is turnably mounted.

The valve casing '66 and sleeve valve 67 are connected by "a bayonet joint 72', the pin of which is secured to said valve and the slot which the upper end of thesleeve valve 0t which is formed in thevalve' casing66;

The pin oi the bayonet joint 72 supports the sleeve valve 67 in the valve casing66 with ports 74 are formed in the sleeve (valve 67 and arranged to be progressively brou ht into registration with the ports 73 by the rotation of the sleevevalve 67 in its casing 66.

The'sleeve valve 67 is operated by a float 75 in the tank 22 and having a radial arm 76 secured to the hub ofa bevel gear which meshes with a fixed bevel cured to the valve casing 66, and through which said casing axially extends. The bevel gear 77 is journaled on a trunnion 79 the inner end of which is formed with a yoke 80 the prongs of which embrace the'valve casing 66 and are rigidly secured to the lower ends of a pair of depending arms 81 rigidly secured to the sleeve valve'67 at diametrically opposite points above the valve casing 66. The upper ends of the arms 81 afford stops for the free end of the bearing arm 71';

To cause the gear 77 to mesh with the gear 76 at the proper pointythere is secured to the valvecasing 66 a pin 82 and on the back of the gear 77 is an axially located ring 83 having a single entrance notch or passage which is in registration with the pin 82 when the float 7 5 is at its lowermost position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 9. In; this position of the float 7 5, thesame is held against further downward movement by the sleeve valve 67, through thearm r7 6, the rotation of which is stopped by the bayonet joint 7 2 as shown in Fig.9. During the assembly otthe valve casing 66 and the sleeve valve 67, the pin ot the'bayonet joint 72 mustbe brought into registration with the entrance notch in saidfjoint and the passage 84 brought into registration with the pin 82 to bring the ports 7 3 and 74 in their proper relation to each other and to cause'the gear 77 the proper point. YJhen the float75is at its uppermost position', as indicated by broken lines infFigfQ,

ing the pin of the bayonet gear 78 rigidly 'se the" two uppermost ports 73 and 74 will be in registratidh. As the cream is drawn from the tank 22 the float 75 is lowered and progressively brings the co-operativc pairs of ports 73 and 74 into registration. When the float 75 reaches its lowermost position, as

shown in Fig. 9, the lowermost pair of ports, 73 and 74 are in registration.

The draw-off assembly can, be removed fromthe tank 22 simply by springing the bearing arm 71 out of interlocking engagement with the sleeve valve 67, for the purpose of cleansing the same and to facilitate the cleansing of said tank. During the cleansing of the draw-oft assembly, the sleeve valve 67 and parts carried thereby can be separated from the valve casing 66 by bringjoint 7 2 into registration with itsyentrance slot and the en trance passage 84 in the ring 83' into registration with the pin 82, and then sliding said sleevevalve axially out of the valve casing 66. a I V v The cream-measuring and valve-controlling assembly can be removed from the rest of the device by swingingthe frame 37 downward, against thetension of the spring 39, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and

lifting said assembly from the seats36. When this assembly is thus removed the liner 63 may be removed therefrom and the V valve 42 and float 66 removed from the receptacle 30' by removing the pivot 47 which, as shown, is in the fOIHlOf a cotter pin to detach the valve stem 43 from the arms 45. At this time, the float 60 can be detached from the lever 54by a lateralmovement to withdraw its'lugs 61 from said lever. After the valve 42 and float 60 are removed from the receptacle 30, said float can be removed from the valve ste1n43 by-an axial movement. With the separated, the same can i be quickly and than. oughly cleansed. The

liner 63 keeps the cream out of direct contact with the trough and alsofout of contact with the parts in said trough. 4

7 Operation.

It may be here stated that the device is especially adapted for use in restaurants,

hotels, and thelike for filling coil'ee or. other beverage cups with a predetermined amount of cream'or other liquid.

ofcreamg the float 75 will rise thereon, and

if the tank 22 is filled substantiallytothe top of "the" valve casing 66, the sleeve valve As the tank22 is being filled wit-ha supply parts of this assembly thus 2 detached 67 will be rotated to bring the uppermost pair of ports 73 and 74 into registration. After the tank is filled. with cream, the cream-measuring and valve-controlling sembly is put in position. During the tilling of the tank 22 with cream, the mixing compartment 68 and the sleeve valve 7 will be filled at the same time through the ports-69 and. cooperating ports '73 and 74. The conveying capacity of the ports 69 and the ports 73 and 74: is such that the proper amount of light and heavy cream will be simultaneously withdrawn from the tank 22 and commingled in the mixing chamber (58 and valve casing 66.

After the cream-measuring and valve-conv trolling assembly is put in positiomthe float 60, acting on the leverM, will openthe valve 27. and allow the cream in the mixing chamber 68 to escape through the ports 26 and be conveyed by the liner G3 to the measuring compartment 31, and at which time the port 42is closed. As the compartment 31 fills with cream, the float (i0 is raised therein and gradually operates the lever 54: and allows the valve 27 to close partly by gravity and partly by the spring29. By adjusting the arm 56, the fulcrum '55 for the lever 54 may be varied at will and thereby regulate the opening of the valve 27 by the float 60 to vary the amount of cream in the measuring and partly under 43 and again operates the lever compartment 31.

When it is desired to fill a cup with Cream, the same is placed under the receptacle 30 and the cup lifted to engage and lift the plate/i8 which, acting through the stem 19, arms 47 ,1 and valve stem e3, will open the valve 41 and allow the cream in the compartment 31 to flow through the port 40 and into the cup held thereunder. After the cream in the measuring compartment 31 has all escaped. into the cup heldthereunder, said cup is lowered to release the plate 48 and permit the valve 42 to return to closed position partly under the action of gravity the action oflhe spring 53. \Vith the closing of the valve 42; the float (30 moves downward on the valve stem 51 to open the valve 27 and allow the escape of cream from the mixingchamber 68 to again till the measuring compartment 31 until stopped by. the closing of the valve 27 as the same is released by the novement of the lever 54'u1 ider the raising action of the float 60, as the same is raised under the action of the cream flowing intothe measuring compartmeat 31. The action of the non-dripping valve is highly important and in actual usage has overcome one of the primary objections to crean'i-dispensing devices now in use which is thedripping of cream during the intervals between which cream is 7 withdrawn from the dispenser.

" By niakingvtheside of the valve 42 convex and terminating the same in a sharp cylindrical edge 44, cream will not adhere to the bottom of said valve by capillary attraction, but will collect on said sharp cylindrical edge. During the closing movement of the valve 42, which is with a fast piston-like action due to the weight of said piston and the spring 53, a blast of air is produced by the entrance of said piston into the sleeve-like port that clears the walls of said port, valve seat and piston of anyvliquid thereon and shoots the same from said port and valve seat and into the cup 'heldunder said port, thus preventing drip )ing of liquid after the valve 42 is closed. my liquid on the valve 12 will quickly collect on its sharp cylindrical edge 14; and, be easily shot therefrom by the closing of said piston.

\Vhat 1 claim is:

1. In a liquid dispensing device, the conibination with a supply tank having asup ply discharge port, anda supply cut-off valve normallyclosing said port, of a measuring compartment having a discharge port, a yieldingly closed discharge cut-off valve for the discharge port of the measuring compartment, a. lloat in the measuring compartment for opening the supply cut-ofi', valve and permitting thesame to close, and manually operated connections for opening the f discharge cut-off valve.

2. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination with a supply tank having a supply discharge port, a supply cut-oflt' valve for closing said port, and automatic means for closing the cutoff valve, of a liquid-measuring compartment having in its bottom a discharge port, a yieldingly closed vertically movable discharge cut-ofi' valve for the discharge port, cup-controlled connections for opening the discharge cut-elf valve, and a fioat in the measuring compartment for opening the supply cut-ofi valve and permitting the same to close.

3. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination with a supply tank having a supply discharge port, a supply cut-off valve for closing said port, and automatic means for closing the cut-off valve, oi? a liquid-measuring compartment having in its bottom a discharge port, ayieldingly closed vertically movable discharge cut-ofi valve for the discharge port and having a stem, connections to said stem includinga cup-engaging member for opening the discharge cut-off valve,

and a float in the measuring compartment for opening the supply cut-off valve and permitting the same to close;

, 4,111 a liquid dispensing device, the combination with a supply tankhaving a supply discharge port, and a supply cut-ofi' valve normally closing said port, of a liquidmeasuring compartment having in its bot mm a discharge port, a. yieldingly closed vertically movable discharge cut-off valve for ill) lit)

the discharge port and having a stem, connectionsto said stem including a cup-en gaging member for opening the discharge cutoff alve, and a float in the measuring compartment and having an aperture through which said stem projects, and a lever connection from the fioatito the supply cut-oil valve foropening and releasing the same.

5. Ina liquid dispensing device, the combination With a supply tank having a supply discharge port, and an automatically closed supply cut-off valve for said port and having a depending stem, of a liquid-measuring compartment having in'its bottom a discharge port, a yieldingly closed vertically movable dischargecutoii valve forthe discharge port, cup-controlled connections foropening the discharge cutsoflfvalve, anda float in the measuring compartment and having an intermediately' i'ulcrumed lever arranged to engage the stem of the supply cutoff valve and open the same. I

6. In a liquid discharging device, the combination with a supply tank having a supply discharge port, a supply cut-off valve for closing said port, and automatic means for closing the cut-off valve, of a liquidmeasuring and dispensing assembly remov ably mounted on said tank and comprising a receptacle having a measuring compartment provided With a discharge port, a discharge cut-off valve normally closing the dis charge port, a float in the measuring compartment, and separable connections from the float to the supply cut-oil valve for opening and releasing the same.

7. In a liquid-dispensing device, the combination with a supply tank having a supply discharge port, a yieldingly closed out o-if valve normally closing said port, of a liquid-measuring and valve-controlling as float in the measuring compartment, and a' lever arranged to be actuated by the'float to open the supply cut-off valve.

8. The structure defined in clalm 7 in which said l'everis intermediately fulcrumed and in which the fulcrum is shiftable to change the relation of the lever in respect to the supply cut-off valve.

9. In a liquid-dispensing device, the combination With a supply tank having a supply discharge portand a yieldingly closed 1 cut-off valve normally closing said port, of a liquid-i'neasuring and valve-controlling as sembly removably mounted in respect to the supply tank and comprising a receptacle having a'measuring compartment, a trough arranged to receive liquid tromthe supply discharge port and deliver the same to the measuring compartment, said measuring compartment having a discharge port, a discharge cut-ofi valve normally closing said discharge port, cup-actuated means for openingthe discharge cut-off valve, a float 1n the measuring compartment, and a lever arranged to be actuated by the float to open thesupply cut-off valve.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my'signature;

ALBERT SLATEN. 

